Preview: Nuggets at Trail Blazers

February 28, 2014|Reuters

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Preview: Nuggets at Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers look to extend their winning streak to five games when they host the injury-plagued Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Portland is 4-1 without leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge, who is out indefinitely with a groin injury, and Damian Lillard has raised his game while averaging 27.2 points in that span. The Nuggets have been without top scorer Ty Lawson for eight games and stand 1-9 over the last 10, including four straight losses.

Lawson is dealing with a rib injury and is doubtful while second-leading scorer Wilson Chandler missed the last game with a knee injury and is questionable. The Trail Blazers, who led the league in scoring (107.9) and rebounding (46.1), are coming off a 124-80 dismantling of Brooklyn on Wednesday. Portland, which has beaten Denver in all three meetings this season, went into Friday only three games behind first-place Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, Altitude (Denver), KGW (Portland)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (25-32): Aaron Brooks has proved to be a valuable pickup at the trade deadline, averaging 13.3 points in four games with his new team - three of them in the starting lineup. His backcourt mate Randy Foye is scoring 16.6 per game over the last 24 contests. J.J. Hickson leads the way in rebounding (9.5) and averages 11.6 points while recording 22 double-doubles for the Nuggets, who are 28th in the league in scoring defense at 104.7 - including 109.5 the last four.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (40-18): Lillard is shooting 50 percent from the field over the last five games, draining 14-of-30 from behind the 3-point arc, while taking more responsibility with Aldridge (23.9 points, 11.4 rebounds) out. Third-leading scorer Wesley Matthews (16.6) suffered a knee injury in Wednesday's game, but is listed as probable for the Nuggets. Nicolas Batum (13) and Robin Lopez (10.7) also average in double figures scoring for Portland, which has registered at least 100 points in eight of its last nine outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Portland G Will Barton, rarely used in 2013-14, registered a season-high 20 points and a career-best 11 rebounds on Wednesday.

2. Denver F Kenneth Faried boasts 56 career double-doubles and the Nuggets are 46-10 in those contests.

3. The Trail Blazers have won the first three games against Denver in a season for the first time since 1998-99.